Kayla’s Story
My new identity?
Employee and student!
In her own words: “In becoming homeless, I grew depressed and suicidal.
I felt unloved and unwanted. Mission Waco’s staff
showed me incredible compassion and help like I never
imagined could happen.”
She was a 4.0 Dean’s List student at McLennan Community College — before meth. By age 38, she was hooked on a $350 per week habit. Stealing outgoing mail and identities, Kayla landed in jail on federal charges. A year later, and having nowhere to go, Kayla walked into Mission Waco. We placed her in our Supportive Housing Program, which gave her a home for six months while she continued her recovery treatment and looked for a job.
Recently promoted to shift manager at Wendy’s, Kayla has paid off her $1,100 criminal fine, a school debt, her addiction treatment costs, and has moved into her own apartment — where she’ll soon hit the books at night, a college student again.
Kayla’s Mission Waco programs:
Meyer Center for Urban Ministry social services
& Community Medical Clinic
Supportive Housing Program
M-Powerment job training